Weigh in on which transportation projects should get funding
Fairfax County is asking citizens for their input on which unfunded transportation projects, including many in the Richmond Highway area, should be prioritized for funding in the coming years.
The county’s list of unfunded projects includes more than 100 capital and operating projects. They vary from interchange improvements to road widening to bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
The county says it only has approximately $100 million available for the projects, and the Board of Supervisors is asking citizens to weigh in on what matters to them most. The first of four public meetings is this Wednesday at the South County Government Center on Richmond Highway (see map) from 7-9 p.m.
You can also take a survey, which must be mailed in by Nov. 9. Additionally, Fairfax County Department of Transportation will be holding an online chat on Oct. 17 from noon to 1 p.m.
Notable projects from the Richmond Highway area include widening Telegraph Road and funding for a grid of streets to be built on Route 1, something that would help support the higher-density projects that are envisioned in the Embark Richmond Highway initiative.
Most of the other local projects listed are smaller in scale, with many aiming to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Two areas for sidewalk improvement — Lockheed Boulevard and Mount Vernon Vernon Highway — would improve conditions next to schools on heavily traveled roads.
State Sen. Scott Surovell (D-36), whose district covers a large part of the Richmond Highway area, said he was disappointed in the county’s list. Projects such as undergrounding power lines on Route 1 and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) were not included, and Surovell says that shows the county’s transportation priorities are not focused enough on the Richmond Highway area.
“The county has repeatedly told me they don’t have money to bury utilities on U.S. 1 or jump start the widening of U.S. 1 or BRT,” Surovell said, noting that districts like Dranesville and Providence have more expensive projects on the list. “The County has the money or could find the money to bury U.S. 1 utilities or start the process of fully funding many of the projects on our part of the County. Given this list, it’s pretty clear to me that staff has prioritized other projects — mostly in the newer and wealthier parts of Fairfax County — to be built elsewhere first.”
Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay took issue with Surovell’s characterization of the county’s transportation priorities. McKay called Surovell’s comments “a populist dog whistle” that did not accurately describe the county’s effort to improve the Route 1 corridor.
“I’m shocked at the misinformation one of our state elected officials is spreading,” McKay said. “Fairfax County has prioritized the Route One Corridor for years, ensuring the investment of more than $1.5 billion to actually build projects along the Highway since [fiscal 2004].”
McKay said that all elected officials in the Richmond Highway area want to underground power lines, but said that it can’t come at the cost of massive tax increase for residents or delaying the Embark initiative. He also said that a lack of state funding for transportation was at the core of the county’s stretched budget.
“Instead of blaming the County, it would be nice if the state played a larger role funding transportation, as it is their primary responsibility,” McKay said. “Because of decades of state inaction, the County had to start making transportation improvements to the state’s roads out of desperation. Sadly, those now have to compete with core county functions like education, public safety and human services needs.”
The county’s full list of proposed unfunded projects can be seen here.
A rundown of the Richmond Highway-area projects from the list:
| Project Title | Category | Estimated Cost (Millions) | Benefit/Cost Ratio | Description/Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grid of Streets in the Richmond Highway Area | Extension and New Roadway | $10 | TBD | Highway Funding Plan Projects |
| Fort Hunt Road and Wellington Road | Spot Improvement | TBD | TBD | Improve sight distance and evaluate possible traffic signal |
| Richmond Highway and Lockheed Boulevard/Dart Drive | Spot Improvement | $1.86 | 2.7 | Intersection improvements |
| Telegraph Road from Leaf Road to Hayfield Road | Widening and Corridor Improvement | $22.41 | 3.6 | Widen from two to four lanes including bicycle and pedestrian facilities |
| South County Bus Service | Transit | $1.85 | N/A | Implement a new recommended bus route from Franconia-Springfield to Fort Belvoir |
| Fort Hunt Road by Belle Haven Country Club | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $1.50 | 1 | Bike and Pedestrian trail |
| Florence Lane from Telegraph Road to Beech Tree Drive | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $0.75 | 0.5 | Add walkway on east side |
| Fort Hunt Road from Collingwood Road to Shenandoah Road | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $5 | 0.5 | 3,500 LF of sidewalk on east side |
| Fort Hunt Road from Richmond Highway to George Washington Memorial Parkway | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $51 | 0.9 | Add bicycle and pedestrian trails along full length |
| Harrison Lane From Huntley Manor Lane to Robert E. Lee Place | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $0.50 | 1 | Construct sidewalk and bike lane |
| Huntington Capital Bikeshare | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $0.50 | N/A | Huntington Capital Bikeshare |
| Huntington Metrorail Station Huntington Metro Area Bicycle Improvements | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $2 | N/A | Huntington Metrorail area bicycle improvements |
| Lenclair Street from Tower Drive to Memorial Street | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $0.28 | 0.9 | 350 lf of sidewalk on the west side |
| Lockheed Boulevard from Huntley Meadows Park to Hybla Valley Elementary School | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $0.90 | 2.3 | Construct 1,500 LF of sidewalk and bike lane on south side |
| Lockheed Boulevard from Groveton Gardens Road to Harrison Lane | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $0.40 | 1.0 | 400 LF of sidewalk and bike lane on north side |
| Memorial Street and Donora Road | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $0.15 | N/A | Crosswalk with bulb-out |
| Mount Vernon Highway from Route 1 to Mount Vernon High School | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $2 | 1.0 | Construct continuous sidewalks on both sides |
| Old Mill Road by Mount Vernon Country Club | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $4.40 | 1 | Bike and Pedestrian trail |
| Old Telegraph Road from Pine Brook Road to Wilton Woods Lane | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $3 | 0.4 | Construct missing sidewalk links on north side |
| Telegraph Road from Hayfield Road to South Van Dorn Street | Widening and Corridor Improvement | $72.02 | 0.4 | Widen from 2 to 4 lanes, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities |
| Telegraph Road from Leaf Road to Hayfield Road | Widening and Corridor Improvement | $22.41 | 3.6 | Widen from 2 to 4 lanes including bicycle and pedestrian facilities |
| South Kings Highway and Memorial Street | Bicycle and Pedestrian | $2 | N/A | Construct missing walkway segment |
This story has been updated to include comment from Surovell and McKay.
I wish you guys would cut this crap out. It really gets old. Just figure it out.
There should be sidewalks on both sides of Richmond Highway and bike paths up and down Richmond Highway also. Maybe then less pedestrians and bike riders would have to get seriously injured or die. Oh but I see the county focusing on improving the wealthier neighborhoods first as usual. Fairfax county doesn’t care about the crime and poverty along the highway and this is to everyone’s detriment whether rich, middle class or poor. Basic safety needs to be the priority.
“I’m shocked at the misinformation one of our state elected officials is spreading,” McKay said. “Fairfax County has prioritized the Route One Corridor for years, ensuring the investment of more than $1.5 billion to actually build projects along the Highway since [fiscal 2004].” What I am shocked about is the fact that NO STUDY HAS TAKEN PLACE as to what impact the construction along RT#1 will have on surrounding road way system. Telegraph Rd is the only alternate route for North South traffic if lanes are blocked on RT#1. Before the first shovel drops on RT#1 widening Telegraph rd and improving it should take precedence. That is common sense. Every one living along Telegraph Rd suffered with long delays after closings Woodlawn Rd because of 9/11. It took almost 13 years before any relief came after opening up Jeff Todd Way. There are many subdivisions North of Hayfield that suffer today just trying to get out of their communities because of the heavy traffic. Add in the construction delays traffic coming over to Telegraph and it will be even worst. It’s sad that count staff has known since 2004 of the upcoming project but yet no study. A quick review of the Lee District Supervisor moving around is one way to tell if traffic is getting bad in an area. Originally he lived in Groveton Heights and didn’t want to fight the traffic along Telegraph Rd and S. Kings Hwy so he moved over near Hayfeld. Today we find out traffic is bad in that area and he has moved from that area.
How come if county staff knew 13 years ago about this project, that no attempt was made then to come up with a plan to start putting the utilities underground then? You had 13 years to come up with a plan, instead you just kept kicking the can. Where was the study to install the bike lane along Beacon Hill Rd. You don’t have to answer because there was never one, lets just put on in. It’s sooo evident that this is the thought process. the next time you drive north on RT#1 and make the right turn onto Beacon Hill Rd. Look at the torn up grass and curb from the busses and trucks that can’t make that turn with out going into the opposing lane of traffic because we installed a bike lane. It’s amazing the number of kids NOT using the bike lane each day to ride to school.